The fusion of Latin America, Arroz Verde with Honey Poblano Chili Chicken, will leave you with a pep in your step and a hankering for seconds!

The VERY VERY GREEN Rice
If you haven’t had arroz verde, you’re missing out… This is probably one of the simplest, yet most flavorful rice recipes east of the Pacific. Beyond risotto, this is my family’s favorite style of rice. While I originally considered this delicious green rice to be of Mexican descent, it is actually a multicultural dish.




What is Arroz Verde?
While doing my research on the background of arroz verde, I realized that Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico all have their own versions! Funny enough, yesterday I received the latest Milk Street magazine only to find an Indian green rice made with spinach and ginger called Palak Pulao. So yes, unbeknownst to me, Arroz Verde or Green Rice has quite the cultural footprint!
The Latin American version generally consists of cilantro, parsley, garlic, green onion, poblano/jalapeno peppers, salt, lemon/lime, and olive oil. WIth that said, each recipe is unique in their blends and can contain other complimentary ingredients such as coconut milk, ginger, and spices!
Typically when I make arroz verde, I use it as a simple and delicious side dish. With this Arroz Verde with Honey Poblano Chili Chicken recipe though, I wanted to simplify dinner by making the rice an all-in-one dish. With the addition of the corn and red peppers, I believe I’ve accomplished this. You can eat this rice alone and be completely satisfied! With that said, I’m quite the carnivore and we all know a boy can’t live on rice and veggies alone!




The Honey Poblano Chili Chicken/Marinade
This Honey Poblano Chili Chicken is the perfect compliment to arroz verde. The sweet charred, caramelized crust with a bit of heat meld together with the vibrant herby green rice. Realistically, the Honey Poblano Chili recipe isn’t specifically for chicken. It’s also a perfect marinade for pork (both chops and tenderloin)! The trick is to make sure its relatively thick. If your marinade gets too thin, it will dribble off too quickly. When it’s on the thicker side, it’s able to stay on the meat while it cooks for the aforementioned sweet char.




How To Serve The Arroz Verde with Honey Poblano Chili Chicken
As discussed above, the rice and chicken are essentially a full meal and do not need anything extra. Accept maybe a bit of the extra green sauce, it’s wonderful on the chicken and even better on some eggs!
If you’re looking for something different, the chicken and rice are great for tacos and with fajitas! You can also serve the arroz verde with a side of pinto or black beans! You do you and enjoy!




If You Like This, You May Also Enjoy These:




Mighty and Healthy Fresco Elote Salad– this salad is refreshing, delicious, and would pair well on the side!




Authentic Mexican Pork Carnitas– not in a chicken mood? These carnitas are absolutely amazing and would be delicious with the arroz verde!